Kahariri v Ndura & 2 others (Land Case Appeal E042 of 2026) [2026] KEELC 4437 (KLR)
The bottom line
#A Nairobi court reinstated a dismissed application despite no excuse for absence, but refused to stop eviction in the meantime.
What this practically means
#Executive summary
#Questions the Court framed
#The issues the Court set itself to decide, in its own words.
- 1.Whether the application to reinstate suit is merited
Key legal issues
#Whether the dismissed application dated 13th March 2026 should be reinstated
Reinstatement allowed despite lack of demonstrated sufficient cause, invoking the overriding objective, Section 3A and Article 159(2)(d)
The applicant had knowledge of the hearing date and gave no specific reason for non-attendance, so failed the sufficient-cause threshold in Wachira Karani. However, the court found goodwill to prosecute the matter: the applicant himself served the hearing notice, the delay in reinstating was short and attributable to filing the wrong application, and the 1st Respondent would not be prejudiced. In the interest of substantive justice the dismissal was set aside, with a 14-day timeline and costs to the applicant.
Legal principles established
#- An applicant seeking reinstatement of a suit or application dismissed for non-attendance must demonstrate sufficient cause for the absence
- The court may nonetheless reinstate under the overriding objective and Article 159(2)(d) where there is demonstrated goodwill to prosecute the matter and no prejudice to the other side
Court orders
#- 1.The firm of Danstan Omari and Company Advocates granted leave to come on record for the applicant
- 2.The orders of the court issued on the 25th March 2026 set aside and the Notice of Motion application dated 13th March 2026 reinstated for hearing
- 3.The Applicant to set down the application dated 13th March 2026 for hearing within the next 14 days failing which it will stand dismissed
- 4.The applicant to bear the costs of the Application
The bench
#One judgment of the whole court — no separate or dissenting opinions.
Wrote the judgment
- Jurisdiction invoked
- Order 12 Rule 7 of the Civil Procedure Rules; Sections 1A, 1B and 3A of the Civil Procedure Act; Article 159(2)(d) of the Constitution
Relief refused
#Interim stay of execution/enforcement of the judgment and consequential orders in Milimani MCELC 263/2022 and injunction against eviction of the applicant from the suit property Nairobi/Block 136/5659
The reinstatement application does not act as a stay of the judgment; the court allowed only reinstatement and leave to come on record
Costs
The applicant shall bear the costs of the Application
Quotable passages
#Verbatim from the judgment, each located to the page it appears on in the official PDF — so these can be cited and checked directly.
I hold that it would be in the interest of justice to hear the application on merit as opposed to not hearing and therefore allow the application
The orders of this Honourable Court issued on the 25th March 2026 are hereby set aside and the Notice of motion application dated 13th May 2026 is hereby reinstated for hearing.
This discretion (to set aside ex parte proceedings or decision) is intended so to be exercised to avoid injustice or hardship resulting from accident, inadvertence, or excusable mistake or error
suficient cause is thus the cause for which the defendant could not be blamed for his absence.
Issues in the judgment
#Judgment alternates between dates of 25th and 26th March 2026 for the dismissal orders being set aside
Reinstated application is misdated as '13th May 2026' in the final orders, whereas it is elsewhere dated 13th March 2026
1st Respondent's replying affidavit is dated 15th May '202.' - typographical error in year
Key timeline
#Practical implications
#Frequently asked questions
#Cite this brief
#Cite this brief
Caselaw, "Kahariri v Ndura & 2 others (Land Case Appeal E042 of 2026) [2026] KEELC 4437 (KLR)", Case Analysis (2026). Not stated in the judgment (appeal against judgment in MCELC E236 of 2022; related suit Milimani MCELC 263/2022). Source: https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelc/2026/4437/eng@2026-07-13
Suggested citation format for research notes or client memos. Always verify the original judgment before relying on any point.